Blasket Islands

The Blasket Islands are a group of main six islands and some rock outcrops that are located off the Dingle peninsula near Dún Chaoin. The Great Blasket is the largest of the group, covering 459 hectares and rising sharply from the sea. The other islands include Inishtooskert, Inishnabro, Inishvickillane, Tearaght Island and Beginish, and mainly comprise of Old Red Sandstone bedrock.

Great Blasket Islands

The Blasket Islands are a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the range of habitats listed on the EU Habitats Directive, including sea cliffs, marine caves, reefs and dry heath. The sea surrounding the islands also offer some shelter to the Grey Seal and Harbour Porpoise from the rough Atlantic Ocean.

Wheatear

Copyright Mike Brown

Wheatear
Copyright Mike Brown

Wheatear

Copyright Mike Brown

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Birdlife

The Great Blasket is a unique, peaceful habitat for an extraordinary variety of birdlife. It was inhabited by people for thousands of years, but since the last family left the island in 1953, sea birds are now the chief inhabitants.

The cry of Gulls around the Blasket Islands is mingled with the calls of an array of other species, such as Fulmars, Puffins, Shags, Peregrins, Wheatears, Kittiwakes and Razorbills. It is one of the most important habitats in the world for Storm Petrels, and for Max Shearwaters nationally.

Flora

The Blasket Islands support an array of flora that is typical of sea cliff habitats. Rock Samphire, Thrift, Sea Campion, Kidney Vetch and Common Scurvy-grass all grow in abundance.

The dry grassland areas are dominated by Red Fescue, Bracken, Heath Bedstraw and different varieties of Heather.

The reef areas along the edge of the islands is characterised by a kelp forest community that reaches 18 meters below sea level. Red algae, jewel anemones and sponges are examples of common vegetation of this habitat.